Rajiv Shukla pitches for cricket ties with Pakistan

Demand for resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan had an echo in Rajya Sabha today with Congress member Rajiv Shukla questioning why the government was not giving its nod to it.

Mr. Shukla raised the issue in the context of a meeting between National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan in Bangkok on Sunday, a week after Prime Ministers of the two countries met in Paris.

“When Prime Ministers are meeting, Foreign Ministers are meeting; Foreign Secretaries and NSAs are meeting; only the cricketers are not being allowed to play. Everyone is creating a problem on that.

“When mangoes and saris are exchanging and their trade is taking place and everyone between two countries are meeting, only cricketers are not allowed to meet and play.

When everything is happening, why not allow the cricket teams to play also. Government should explain and come out with a statement,” he said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said, “I think that it is a suggestion on which government should have a positive reaction. Why not government should look into it?”

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Government will work in national interest. It is equally concerned about the national interest as Rajiv Shukla is.”